Country Area Routes 340344

North of the Thames

Last updated 17-07-06.

Route 340 ran between New Barnet Station and Welwyn Garden City via Barnet, Potters Bar, North Mymms, Stone House Corner and Stanborough. As with any “E” plate that shows “SPECIAL JOURNEYS ONLY”, it is exceeding rare, as they were likely to have been produced for just a few stops.

Route 340A ran in Hertfordshire between Hatfield and Welwyn Garden City, serving Haldens, Howlands, Panshager and South Hatfield. In 1965 the 340A provided just one return school journey between Potters Bar (Ashwood Walk) and Hatfield Technical College via Welham Green. By 1969 this service had been renumbered 340C, so it may have been withdrawn at some point in the intervening years. In the late ’60s the 340A ran from South Hatfield to Haldens or Panshanger via Hatfield, Howlands and Welwyn Garden City.

Route 340B ran between New Barnet Station and Welwyn Garden City via Barnet, Potters Bar, North Mymms, South Hatfield and Stanborough. As with any “E” plate that shows “SPECIAL JOURNEYS ONLY”, it is exceeding rare, as they were likely to have been produced for just a few stops.

Route 340C provided just one return school journey between Potters Bar (Ashwood Walk) and Hatfield Technical College via Welham Green as route 340A. I believe it was a more regular service in later years but I don’t think this was a very major route at any time. Also, routes with a “C” suffix were always in the minority.

This plate is of special interest as it is destinated, and may have come from just a single stop, possibly at St. Albans City Station where buses ran in both directions, and the stops would have needed differentiation.

“SPECIAL JOURNEYS ONLY” plates are much rarer than plain numbers. This one would probably have come from a stand working somewhere, possibly at Horns Mill where some additional journeys used to run.

Route 341 was a major trunk route which ran daily between St. Albans (Marshalswick Estate) and Hertford (Bus Station) via St. Albans, Oaklands, Hatfield, Mill Green, Essendon Mill and Bayford Lane. It was one of the last routes operated from the Hertford garage to retain a conductor, probably because it was busy between Hatfield and St. Albans. In the last years of crew operation, ex-Green Lines RMCs (Routemaster coaches) were used which made the journey to St. Albans both warm and very comfortable.

Route 341B ran on Mondays to Saturdays between St. Albans (Marshalswick Estate) and South Hatfield (Northdown Road) via Fleetville, Oaklands, Smallford and Hatfield and Woods Avenue. It apparently replaced the 341A which ran between the same two terminii, but via Fleetville and Smallford.

Andrew Frowd wrote: “I cannot provide you with dates but in the 1950's, the 342 ran from New Barnet Station to Hertford and was RF-operated. In about 1960, the route was combined with the 350/350A and extended from Hertford to Bishop’s Stortford. The 342 was a delightful ride, and I was saddened to realise that there is no bus service these days between the A1000/B158 intersection at Brookmans Park and Essendon.”

A later route 342 ran on Saturdays only between Dunstable (Square) and London Colney via Kensworth, Markyate, Friars Wash, Redbourn and St. Albans. The 342 was a variation of the 343 that ran from Dunstable to Brookmans Park.

This plate came from the newer route 342 and is rather unusual as it was uncommon for Country Area “E” plates to show the days of operation.

Route 343 ran daily between Dunstable (Square) and Colney Heath via Kensworth, Markyate, Friars Wash, St. Albans and Oaklands. It was extended on Mondays to Saturdays to Brookmans Park Station via North Mymms and Welham Green, and some peak journeys were extended to the AC-Delco Works at Dunstable.

Route 344 was a local service in the Hemel Hempstead area, and ran between Hemel Hempstead Station and Grove Hill via Long Chaulden and the Town Centre.

Click on any of the tiles below to go to images of the “E” plates and the route descriptions for that number series.